This lawsuit was filed by a woman who, after undergoing two prior uterine artery embolizations using Embospheres, claimed that her doctors had negligently spread the small biotech beads throughout her body to devastating effects. Originally, the Embospheres were meant to block the blood supply to the fibroids, lessening the woman’s uterine fibrosis through a minimally invasive procedure. However, both the procedures were unsuccessful, and she was advised to undergo a hysterectomy through the use of a morcellator, which would reduce her gynecological tissue to an extractable size. During the hysterectomy, however, the previously ineffective Emospheres were dislodged and dispersed throughout her body, causing such significant scarring and pain to her ovaries that they needed to be removed. This allegedly preventable complication was at the center of the patient’s malpractice suit, and an expert familiar with Embospheres’ complications and properties was asked to comment.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Do you perform uterine artery embolizations?
2. Are you familiar with the use of Embospheres and their possible complications?
Expert Witness Response E-008010
I do perform uterine artery embolizations, and am very familiar with the use of Embospheres. Possible complications with embospheres include non-target embolization, where structure other than, or in addition to, the target organ is embolized, tissue necrosis, and shunting of particles through the target organ and into non-target organs such as the lungs.
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